Method of operating a film handling cassette

ABSTRACT

A photographic system, comprising a film cassette containing a strip of film, a supply of processing composition, and a processor programmed to apply the processing composition to the film upon manipulation of the film in the cassette; and a film drive and projection system adapted to receive the cassette, and containing cyclic drive apparatus responsive to the insertion of a cassette and to a signal produced by the cassette indicating whether or not the film has been processed for manipulating the film, to cause processing if the film has not been processed, and then to project it; or simply to project the film, if it has been processed.

United States Patent [1 Land [4 1 Mar. 26, 1974 [54] METHOD OF OPERATINGAFILM 3,584,944 6/1971 Cook 352 130 HANDLING CASSETTE Edwin H. Land, Cambridge, Mass.

Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass.

Filed: Jan. 31, 1973 Appl. No.: 328,482

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 227,080, Feb. 17, 1972.

lnventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl 95/13, 352/130, 352/78 Int. Cl G03c 11/00 Field of Search 352/130, 72, 78; 95/13,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1972 Meggs 95/13 ABSTRACT A photographic system, comprising a film cassette containing a strip of film, a supply of processing composition, and a processor programmed to apply the processing composition to the film upon manipulation of the film in the cassette; and a film drive and projection system adapted to receive the cassette, and containing cyclic drive apparatus responsive to the insertion of a cassette and to a signal produced by the cassette indicating whether or not the film has been processed for manipulating the film, to cause processing if the film has not been processed, and then to project it; or simply to project the film, if it has been processed.

14 Claims, 47 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZS m4 3.800.306

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DC MOTOR CONTROL 392 /SHUTTER MOTION DCM I s5 DETECTOR 2 PATENTEU MAR 2 6 i974 sum 170F17 MOTION DETEC O R 0 T O M C D CONTROL METHOD OF OPERATING A FILM HANDLING CASSETTE This application is a division of my copending U. S. application Ser. No. 227,080, filed on Feb. 17, 1972 for Photographic System for Processing and Projecting Transparencies.

This invention relates to photography, and particularly to a novel system for processing and projecting transparencies.

A widely accepted advance in the photographic art has been the creation of photographic systems in which photosensitive material is packaged with processing composition so that photographs may be produced without the aid of a darkroom immediately after the production ofa latent image in the camera. It would be highly desirable to extend this facility to the production of projection transparencies, as for motion pictures and the like. It is the object of this invention to facilitate the production of projection transparencies without the aid of a darkroom, and to enable such images to be projected within minutes after their production in latent form.

The above and other objects of the invention are attained by a novel photographic system which comprises as the key element a replaceable film cassette. The cassette contains a strip of film, a supply of processing composition for the film, and an internally programmed processor responsive to the manipulation of the film in the cassette for applying the processing composition to the film after its exposure.

The cassette is adapted to be inserted in a camera, for exposure of the film. After exposure, it is inserted into a film drive and projection system. This system comprises a receptacle configured to receive the cassette, and cyclic drive apparatus for manipulating the film in the cassette. The film is manipulated in a sequence determined by a signal provided by the cassette that indicates whether or not the film has been processed.

In response to the insertion of a cassette containing unprocessed film, the film drive and projection apparatus manipulates the film in the cassette in a lighttight environment. That movement of the film activates the processor, developing the film to produce a series of fixed, visible, projectable images. Thereafter, the apparatus manipulates the film in an optical system, causing it to be projected for viewing. Finally, the film is rewound, for storage and subsequent reuse. In response to the insertion of a cassette containing processed film, the system simply projects the film, and then rewinds it.

More specifically, the cassette comprises a lighttight housing containing a pair of storage reels on which a strip of film is disposed, extending from one reel to the other over a path including a film gate in the housing through which a portion of the film is exposed for cooperation with a camera, and with the film drive and projection system. The film is initially unexposed, and coiled primarily about one of the reels hereinafter referred to as the supply reel. The other reel, to be referred to as the takeup reel, is connected to one end of the film and adapted to store the film as it is advanced from the supplyreel during exposure, or during subsequent manipulations in the film drive and projection system.

The cassette contains a processing system that is initially latched into an inactive state by a detent that is released when the cassette is inserted in the film drive and projection system. A singularity is provided on the film, preferably comprising a hook formed adjacent an aperture in the film near the end connected to the supply reel. In response to movement of the film toward the takeup reel beyond an exposure termination point established in the camera, the hook engages and releases a pressure pad that then resiliently urges the film into contact with a coating nozzle.

The film is provided, along at least one edge, with conventional sprocket holes to enable the film to be incrementally advanced onto the supply reel during exposure or projection. In accordance with the invention, the series of sprocket holes is interrupted at a first point by a first elongated sprocket hole that serves to terminate advance of the film in the camera. A second sprocket hole is provided, of greater length than the first, which serves a similar purpose in the film drive and projection system by terminating advance of the film at a point beyond the exposure termination point established in the camera. When the film has been advanced in the film drive and projection system to the second termination pointestablished by the second elongated sprocket hole, it is then rewound.

A pair of contacts on the cassette produce a signal, in a manner to be described, that indicates whether or not the film has been processed. This signal is sensed by the film drive and projection system when the cassette is inserted into it. If the film has not been processed, rewinding takes place in three stages. As the first step, a short length of film is drawn onto the supply reel, causing rotation of the supply reel in the rewind sense for the first time since the manufacture of the cassette. Rotation of the supply reel in that sense activates a release mechanism, enabled by the insertion of a cassette in the film drive and projection system, to release the processing composition in preparation for developing the film.

A short interval of time is then allowed to elapse during which the film is motionless. That allows the processing composition to find its way into the coating nozzle. Thereafter, the film is rewound onto the supply reel continuously, at constant linear speed relative to the coating nozzle, while the processing composition is applied to it in a thin, uniform coat. Towards the end of this process, as the film nears its end on the takeup reel, another singularity in the film, which may take the form of an aperture in the film near the end connected to the takeup reel, engages the processor and causes the pressure plate to be cammed out of engagement with the film and into a latched storage position, while closing the coating nozzle aperture.

The film drive and projection system includes a drive mechanism coupled to the supply and takeup reels through slip clutches. As the end of the film is reached on the takeup reel, these shafts slip, and this cessation of motion is sensed to cause the drive system to advance to a projection mode of operation.

In that mode, a snubber reel in the cassette is engaged to prevent motion of the film onto the takeup reel except as it is incrementally advanced by a drive pawl that sequentially engages the sprockets in the edge of the film. A projection lamp is turned on, and directs light through the film through a lens that focuses an image of the developed images onto a screen provided as part of the projection system. The finished film is thus projected for viewing within approximately a minute after the insertion of the exposed film into the film drive and projection system.

At the end of the projection cycle, the film is rapidly rewound onto the supply reel. The cassette is then automatically ejected. Had the film in the cassette been processed prior to its last insertion in the system, operation would commence with projection of the film, and conclude by rewinding the projected film onto the supply reel, and ejecting the cassette as before.

The system of the invention, the manner in which its components are constructed, and their mode of operation, will best be understood in the light of the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, of a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective sketch of a film cassette shown in association with a film drive and projection system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view, with parts shown in cross section and parts broken away, of the film drive and projection system of FIG. 1, taken substantially along the lines 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic fragmentary perspective sketch of a portion of a cassette receiving receptacle in the film drive and projection system of FIG. 1, taken sub stantially along the lines 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic plan sketch, with parts broken away, of a film strip forming a part of the cassette of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan sketch, with parts omitted, parts shown in cross section, and parts broken away, of a film cassette in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective sketch of a cassette in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary schematic perspective sketch, with parts broken away and parts shown in cross section, of a portion of a composition release mechanism forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic fragmentary cross sectional elevational views, with parts shown in cross section and parts broken away, of further details of a portion of the release mechanism of FIGS. 5 and 7, taken substantially along the lines 8-8 in FIG. 5, with parts shown from positions taken somewhat behind those lines, showing the parts in two positions and in association with a portion of a detent release mechanism forming a part of the film drive and projection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a schematic fragmentary plan view, with parts shown in cross section, parts omitted and parts broken away, showing the apparatus of FIG. 5 in another position assumed during its operation;

FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 are fragmentary schematic plan views, with parts shown in cross section, parts omitted, and parts broken away, showing on an enlarged scale the sequence of operation of processing apparatus forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective sketch of a pressure pad forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective sketch ofa coating nozzle forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross sectional elevational view of the nozzle of FIG. 15, taken substantially along the lines 16-16 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective sketch of a pressure pad depressing cam and nozzle closure plate assembly forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 18 is an elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 17, taken substantially along the lines 1818 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a schematic fragmentary plan view, with parts shown in cross section, parts omitted, and parts broken away, illustrating a portion of the film drive and projection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary schematic perspective sketch of a locating pin latching mechanism forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary schematic plan sketch, with parts omitted, parts shown in cross section, and parts broken away, of a locator pin and its actuating mechanism forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a schematic perspective sketch of a yoke forming a part of the apparatus of FIGS. l924;

FIG. 23 is a schematic perspective sketch of a cam follower forming a part of the apparatus of FIGS. l924;

FIG. 24 is a schematic fragmentary end view, with parts shown in cross section, parts omitted, and parts broken away, of the apparatus of FIG. 21, taken substantially along the lines 2424 in FIG. 28 and showing the parts in the position assumed in FIG. 28;

FIG. 25 is a cross sectional elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 24, taken substantially along the lines 2525 in FIG. 28;

FIGS. 26-28 comprise schematic fragmentary plan views, with parts shown in cross section, parts omitted, and parts broken away, showing the apparatus of FIG. 21 in various other positions assumed during its operation;

FIGS. 29 and 30 are fragmentary schematic elevational views, with parts omitted, parts shown incross section, and parts broken away, showing a lamp housing and blinder mechanism therefor, forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 19 in two positions assumed during its operation;

FIG. 31 is a cross sectional elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 29, taken substantially along the lines 31-31 in FIG. 29;

FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 31, but with the lamp housing omitted;

FIG. 33 is a fragmentary schematic cross sectional elevational view, with parts omitted and parts broken away, showing a cassette ejecting mechanism and spindle plate stop mechanism forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 19, taken substantially along the lines 3333 in FIG. 19;

FIG. 34 is a schematic perspective fragmentary sketch of the spindle plate stop mechanism forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a view similar to FIG. 33, showing the parts in another position assumed during their operation;

FIG. 36 is a view similar to FIG 33, showing the parts in still another position assumed during their operation;

FIG. 37 is a schematic perspective sketch of a pressure plate lifting mechanism forming a part of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 18;

FIG. 38 is a schematic cross sectional elevation of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 19 taken substantially along the lines 3838 in FIG. 19 and showing the pressure plate lifting mechanism in its cooperative relationship with a cassette;

FIG. 39 is a view similar to FIG. 38, showing the parts in another position assumed during their operation; 

1. A method of operating a film handling cassette including a strip of film to effect film exposure, processing and viewing operations, said cassette further including a substantially opaque housing, access means for sequentially facilitating the direction of image-carrying light rays onto a first side of an incremental section of said strip and for facilitating the direction of a beam of light through an incremental section of said strip outwardly of said first side thereof, a normally inoperative processing station wherein an incremental section of said strip may be treated after exposure thereof to develop viewable images thereon, said processing station requiring at least two functions to render it completely operative, said strip being initially substantially entirely stored at a first position within said housing and extending therefrom through said processing station and said access means to a second position within said housing, first and second ends of said strip being respectively permanently positioned at said first and second positions whereby an intermediate section of given length of said strip may be advanced from said first position across said processing station towards said second position, at least a portion of said section stored at said first position initially bearing latent images and disposed to traverse said access means when said intermediate section is advanced through said processing station, said method comprising the steps of: advancing at least a segment of said film strip across said access means towards said first position while performing a first of said functions required to render said processing station operative; performing the second of said functions required to render said processing station operative while progressively advancing said film strip towards said second position to effect the processing treatment of substantially the entire length of said film strip to develop viewable images thereon; directing a beam of light towards said access means; and progressively advancing at least the length of said strip containing said viewable images across said access means towards said first position to facilitate the viewing of said viewable images.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said cassette additionally includes means for releasably storing a quantity of processing fluid, and said processing station includes means for receiving said fluid when it is released from said storing means and applying said fluid to an incremental section of said strip and one of said functions required to render said processing station operative includes the step of releasing said processing fluid from said storing means and said method additionally includes the step of advancing at least a portion of said strip intermediate its said first end and its said photosensitive portion towards said first position before said fluid contacts said film strip.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the advancement of said strip towards its said first position is temporarily discontinued when said processing fluid is released from said storing means to permit said fluid to reach said strip.
 4. The method of operating a film handling cassette including a strip of material to effect film exposure, processing and viewing operations, said cassette further including a substantially opaque housing, access means for sequentially facilitating image-carrying light rays being directed onto a first side of An incremental section of said strip of material and for facilitating a beam of light being directed onto an incremental section of said strip of material outwardly of said first side thereof, means for releasably storing a quantity of processing fluid and a normally inoperative processing station including means for receiving said fluid when it is released from said storing means and applying said fluid to an incremental section of said strip of material after exposure thereof to develop viewable images thereon, said strip of material being initially substantially entirely stored at a first position within said housing and extending therefrom through said processing station and said access means to a second position within said housing, first and second ends of said strip of material being respectively permanently positioned at said first and second positions whereby an intermediate section of a given length of said strip of material may be advanced from said first position across said processing station towards said second position, at least a portion of said intermediate section initially being formed of an unexposed photosensitive material and disposed to traverse said access means when said intermediate section is advanced through said processing station, said method comprising the steps of: directing image-carrying light rays through said access means; simultaneously advancing at least a segment of said photosensitive portion of said strip of material across said access means towards said second position; progressively advancing a portion of said intermediate section of said strip of material towards said first position, releasing said fluid from said storing means and temporarily discontinuing the advancement of said intermediate section towards said first position to permit said fluid to reach said strip of material; progressively advancing the remaining segment of said intermediate section of said strip of material towards said first position whereby viewable images are formed thereon; directing a beam of light towards said access means; and progressively advancing at least the length of said strip of material containing said viewable images across said access means towards said second position to facilitate the viewing of said viewable images.
 5. The method of operating a film handling cassette including a strip of material to effect film exposure, processing and viewing operations, said cassette further including a substantially opaque housing, access means for sequentially facilitating image-carrying light rays being directed onto a first side of an incremental section of said strip of material and for facilitating a beam of light being directed onto an incremental section of said strip of material outwardly of said first side thereof, means for releasably storing a quantity of processing fluid and a normally inoperative processing station including means for receiving said fluid when it is released from said storing means and applying said fluid to an incremental section of said strip of material after exposure thereof to develop viewable images thereon, said strip of material being initially substantially entirely stored at a first position within said housing and extending therefrom through said processing station and said access means, at least a portion of said strip of material initially being formed of an unexposed photosensitive material, said method comprising the steps of: directing image-carrying light rays through said access means; simultaneously advancing at least a segment of said photosensitive portion of said strip of material in a given direction across said access means; progressively advancing at least a portion of said strip of material across said access means, releasing said fluid from said storing means and temporarily discontinuing any advancement of said strip of material to permit said fluid to reach said strip of material; progressively advancing at least the exposed photosensitivE portion of said strip of material across said processing station whereby viewable images are formed thereon; directing a beam of light towards said access means; and progressively advancing at least the length of said strip of material continuing said viewable images across said access means to facilitate the viewing of said viewable images.
 6. The method of operating a film handling cassette containing a strip of film comprising at least an exposed portion bearing latent photographic images and disposed on film transport means operable to move the film in first and second opposite directions through an exposure and projection station and through a processing station engageable with the film and containing a supply of processing composition sufficient to process the entire portion of the film strip exposable at the exposure and projection station, the latent images on the film strip having been formed while operating the film transport means to advance the film strip through the exposure and projection station in said first direction, comprising the steps of placing the cassette in a projection having a normally deenergized projection light source, operating the film transport means to advance the film an additional increment in said first direction while engaging said processing means until at least the entire length of said exposable portion of said film strip has been advanced through said processing station, operating the film transport means to return the film in said second direction while applying said processing composition to at least said entire exposable portion of the film, operating the film transport means to advance the film through the exposure and projection station while energizing the projection light source and projecting images framed on the film, and operating the film transport means to return the film in said second direction until at least said entire exposable portion has been moved in said second direction through the exposure and projection station.
 7. The method of operating a film handling cassette containing a strip of film comprising an exposable portion, said exposable portion comprising at least an exposed portion bearing latent photographic images, said film strip being disosed on film transport means operable to move the film in first and second opposite directions through an exposure and projection station and through a processing station engageable with the film and operable to apply processing composition to the film strip, the latent images on the film strip having been formed while operating the film transport means to advance the film strip through the exposure and projection station in said first direction, comprising the steps of placing the cassette in a projector having a normally deenergized projection light source, and operating the film transport means to advance the film an additional increment in said first direction while performing a function necessary to render said processing means operative.
 8. The method of operating a film handling cassette containing a strip of film comprising an initially exposable portion including at least an exposed portion bearing latent photographic images and disposed on film transport means operable to move the film in first and second opposite directions through a processing station engageable with the film and containing a supply of processing composition sufficient to process the entire initially exposable portion of the film strip, the latent images on the film strip having been formed while operating the film transport means to advance the film strip through the processing station in said first direction, comprising the steps of placing the cassette in processing apparatus, operating the film transport means to advance the film an additional increment in said first direction until at least the entire length of said exposable portion of said film strip has been advanced through said processing station, and operating the film transport means to return the film in saId second direction while applying substantially all of said processing composition to said entire initially exposable portion of the film.
 9. The method of operating a film handling cassette containing a strip of film disposed on film transport means operable to move the film past a processing station comprising a container of processing composition and film coating means operable when supplied with processing composition to coat the film with the composition, comprising the steps of operating the film transport means to move a first increment of the film past the processing station while opening the container, stopping the film when the container is opened for an interval sufficient to allow the composition to reach the coating means, and then operating the film transport means to move the film past the processing station while the processing composition is applied to the film by the coating means.
 10. A method of operating a photographic cassette including an exposed strip of film to effect film processing and viewing operations, said cassette further including a substantially opaque housing, access means for facilitating the transmission of light rays onto an incremental section of said strip of film, a normally inoperative processing station wherein an incremental section of said strip of material may be treated after exposure thereof to develop viewable images thereon, said processing station requiring the performance of at least two functions to render it completely operative, said strip of material being initially substantially entirely stored at a first position within said housing and extending therefrom through said processing station and said access means to a second position within said housing, first and second ends of said strip of material being respectively permanently positioned at said first and second positions whereby an intermediate section of given length of said strip of material may be advanced from said first position across said processing station towards said second position, and at least a portion of said intermediate section initially being formed of unexposed film and disposed to traverse said access means when said intermediate section is advanced through said processing station, said method comprising the steps of: directing image-carrying light rays through said access means; simultaneously advancing at least a segment of said photosensitive portion of said strip across said access means towards said second position and terminating said advancement prior to the entire intermediate section of said strip being advanced across said processing station to facilitate film exposure operations; progressively advancing the remaining segment of said intermediate section to perform a first of said functions required to render said processing station operative; subsequently performing the other of said functions required to render said processing station completely operative; progressively advancing at least said photosensitive portion of said section of said strip towards said first position to effect the processing treatment of the entire length of said photosensitive portion to facilitate the development of viewable images thereon; directing a beam of light towards said access means; and progressively advancing at least the length of said strip containing said viewable images across said access means toward said second position to facilitate the viewing of said viewable images.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said cassette additionally includes means for releasably storing a quantity of processing fluid and said processing station includes means for receiving said fluid when it is released from said storing means and applying said fluid to an incremental section of said strip and said second step of rendering said processing station operative includes the step of releasing said processing fluid from said storing means and said method additionally includes the step of advancing at least a portion of sAid strip intermediate its said first end and its said photosensitive portion towards said first position before said fluid contacts said film strip.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the advancement of said strip towards its said second position is temporarily discontinued when said processing fluid is released from said storing means to permit said fluid to reach said strip.
 13. The method of operating a film handling cassette including a strip of at least partly exposed film to effect film processsing operations, said cassette further including a substantially opaque housing, access means for sequentially facilitating image-carrying light rays being directed onto a first side of an incremental section of said strip and for facilitating a beam of light being directed onto an incremental section of said strip outwardly of said first side thereof, means for releasably storing a quantity of processing fluid and a normally inoperative processing station including means for receiving said fluid when it is released from said storing means and applying said fluid to an incremental section of said strip to develop viewable images thereon, said strip being initially substantially entirely stored at a first position within said housing and extending therefrom through said processing station and said access means to a second position within said housing, first and second ends of said strip being respectively permanently positioned at said first and second positions whereby an intermediate section of a given length of said strip may be advanced from said first position across said processing station towards said second position, at least a portion of said intermediate section initially being disposed to traverse said access means when said intermediate section is advanced through said processing station, said method comprising the steps of: advancing a segment of said photosensitive portion of said strip across said access means towards said second position; releasing said fluid from said storing means and temporarily discontinuing the advancement of said intermediate section towards said second position to permit said fluid to reach said strip of material; and progressively advancing the remaining segment of said intermediate section of said strip of material towards said second position whereby viewable images are formed thereon.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: directing a beam of light towards said access means; and progressively advancing at least the length of said strip containing said viewable images across said access means towards said second position to facilitate the viewing of said viewable images. 